Angular attachment for dental handpieces



Aug. 6, 1935. w. J. TERRY ANGULAR ATTACHMENT FOR DENTAL HANDPIECES Filed May 23, 1935 INVENTOR ull.

maf/1414 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED A s s, 2,010,421`

PATENT am ANGULAR ATTACHMENT Fon nANnPmcEs DENTAL A The inventionV isan improvement in angular attachments for handpieces for dental orgother purposes which is constructed so that all workableparts may readily be removed for cleaning and renewing by one inexperienced in the art, and in which all of the delicate parts are fitted in their proper relative positions by skilled factory ymechanics, and supplied in fully assembled units, so

that they may be instantly installed in the hand A contactAor touch maybe obtained which is essenl piece. A A

In most instruments of this, type it is practically impossible to take V the instrument apart and, therefore, theinterior partsare notreadily ac-` cessible so that it is.very difficult to completely 1 clean the instrument and, as; parts wear, it is very difficult to remove and replace them, and in some cases impossible, therefore, when it is necessary to repair instruments of this type the linstrument is generally returned to the factory, as

it requires a skilled mechanic to remove and repair its parts. These instruments are also gen-A erally constructed so that wear develops in the` frame or casings, and in some cases it is necessary to supply a new part or even a whole casing,

Instruments have been provided in which'onev part may be separated from another, andalso in r which some of the interior parts maybe removed, and in some cases the rotating shafts have been removedfrom the frame, however in all instancesA these have been so constructed that they cause a direct wear in parts of the frame so that `it is necessary to replace the frame or parts thereof. i

This invention relates to an instrument in which all of the interior parts are supplied in.A

ranged that the parts are formed in a removable. barrel with both the upper and lower `bearings and both of these bearings with all of the inte- A rior parts may be removed as a unit or in two units. A A

The object of` this invention is, therefore, to

arrange all of Vthe interior or working partsof an instrument of this type so that any ofthe mov? f ing partsdo not contact the frame 'orcasingangd of which may be independently removed and res-,

also so that all ofthe interior parts may readily be removed andreplacedand 1n whichthe removable parts that require special fitting are contained in separate units which may be made in the shop.

Another object A ofA the invention is ,to provide a dentalghandpiece which is substantially about one-half of the weight of normal handpieces sothat a; much more sensitive reaction to the drill tial to dentistry of the nner type., A Another object is to provide an instrument of this type in which all the parts may be removed v and replaced by hand and by one inexperienced in mechanics or devices of tthis nature.

Another object is to provide an instrument of this type in which all the interior-parts may be supplied independently and any one may be removed and replaced independently of theother. A-A. Another object isto provide an instrument of this type in which the moving parts do not engage the frame or casing, and all exterior corners-arerounded. A A

Another object is to provide a sliding bur lock for h andpiecesrthatv eliminates all open holes thru the head, which leak oil andpermit saliva to be drawn intothe interior. A further Objectis top rovide an angle attachment for dental handpieces in which the top bearing ofthehead spindle is readily replaceable by the dentist and the front or main bearing of the headspindle is `held in the head without threads being cut on the bearing or in the head.

And a still further object is to provide an angle attachment or handpiece fordental or other purposes in .which all ofthe wearing-parts and also all of the other interior parts are readily replaceable, which is of a simple and economical constrution, A

ith these ends in View the invention embodies an angle attachment or handpiece having a head, a rear case and an angle section connecting the head and casein which each of these parts is aA separate and independent unit and in which the interior operating parts are provided in three separate ,and distinct units, each of which may readily be removed andA replaced independently, and` also in which the head unit may be removed and replaced as an integralunit or in ,separate parts. The head vunit is of a vbarrel shape Awith the front and back `bearings contained in a removablefsleeve or barrel in which the front bearingand spindle may readily be removed and replaced `without removing the barrel.

Qt'ller features eededvantages `0f the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing an elevation of the instrument.

Figure 2 is a similar view on a large scale showing a longitudinal section thru the assembled instrument.

Figure 3 is a detail showing the head of the instrument. x

Figure 4 is a similar detail showing the angle section of the instrument.

Figure 5 is also a similar detail showing the rear case of the instrument. K

Figure 6 is a view showing the barrel asan assembled unit removed from the head.

Figure 7 is a view showing the gear assembly.

of the head and angle section.

Figure 8 is a View showing the operating gearand bearing removed from the rear case.4

Figure 9 is a plan View of the barrel 'removedv away showing the barrel removed from the-'head1 with all the parts therein.

Figure 14 is a cross section 'on line 'I4- I4 of Figure 2.

Figure l5.is a view of a head of anv old type of instrument showing the manner in which the head may be bored out to accommodate the barrel of the head as shown in Figures 6 and 13.

Figure 16 is a detail showing a cross'sectionthru the bearings shown in Figures '7 and 8 showing an alternate design in which the bearings are made in two halves so that they may readily be removed from the spindles and replaced. I

Figure 17 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 15 showing the upper bearing of the head in which lthe lower bearing is threaded in the head and` the barrel-shown in Figure 6 is omitted.

Figure 18 is a View showing al straight or plain R/4 attachment or handpiece in'which the angle section is omitted, showing-thatthe interior head construction, as shown in Figure 2, may-also be used in a handpiece of this type.

In the drawing the numeral I indicates the head, numeral 2 the angle section and numeral 3- the rear case. v

Although the device is shown and described as an improvement in angular attachments for handpieces for dentists it willbe understood that it mayA also be applied to handpieces or instruments of any other type or design and it maytical opening 5 of this head has'beenmachinedv out to accommodate the barrel, as'shown in Figure 6, and a screw opening' drilled and tapped therein to hold the barrel, the head' is otherwise the same as is normally used for instruments of a diierent type: Other instruments zof different types may also be machined or bored to accomvopening is a groove I4 in which a plate I5 is slidably held. The forward end of the plate I5 is provided with a slot I6 thru which the upper end of a bur passes and it will be noted that the edges ofthe vslot I5 slide into a continuous ring around `the upper end of the bur. The upper end of the bur above the ring passes into a recess Il in a member I8 which is held upon the upper surface of the-plate I5 by a screw I9. The member I8 ts between the edges of an opening 2G in the top of the head, as shown in Figure Iii and the upper surface of the member I8 is provided with teeth 2I by which it may be drawn backward from the position shown in Figure l2 to that shown in Figure v3, and the opposite end of this member is provided .with araised portion 22 which provides a cover for the 'recess il. It will be noted that this sliding member, which engages and holds the upper-end of the bur forms a complete seal for the top of the head, thereby-eliminating all open holes thru the head which leak oil into the head and also allow saliva to be drawn on the inside. The upper side of the plate I5 is provided with a lug 23 which extends into a recess in the under side of l the member I6 below the teeth 2l as shown, and it will be noted that this lug will prevent the plate I5 being placed in the head upside down as the lugfwill engage the surface at the bottom of the slot I6. This surface of the slot I6 is also provided with a recess 211 into which the end of the screw I-9 extends and it will be noted that the screw will engage the end of the recess to limit the outward movement of this member with the screw-in place. The plate IS is bent slightly laterally to provide suiicient friction to restrict the movement oi this member in the slot. It will be understood that any other means may be used for securing or locking the sliding member in any position in the head.

The horizontal'section 9 of the head extends outward and the end thereof is provided with a flange 25 having teeth 26 in the outer edge thereof and a recess 2 formed inside of the teeth. This recess engages a collar 28 on the bearing 29 of the gear assembly shown in Figure 7, in order to govern the mesh of the gears toV obtain perfect adjustment. A coupling 3Q is freely mounted on the end of the section 9 and prevented moving off thereof by the flange 25, as shown in Figures 2 and 3` and it will'be noted that as this coupling is screwedr on threads 3I of the angle section 2 it will securely hold the angle section against the end of this horizontal section of the head with teeth 32 meshing with and holding in the teeth 26 at the end of the head. With these parts held the collar 28 will be held between the members I and 2 and the end of the member 2 is also provided with a recess 33 into which one side of the collar 28 will extend and by which it may be held.

The bearing 29, upon which the collar 28 is xedly mounted is therefore held stationary in the opening IG of the horizontal section of the head I 'and a bearing 34 is similarly held in an opening 35 in the angle section 2. The opposite end of the angle section 2 is bent upward from the v4point 36 and the outer end is provided with opening 3l having a threaded section 38 therein, al recess 39 beyond the threaded section and an opening 40 beyond the recess. This end screws overa threaded nipple 4I on ,the end of the rear case 3 and the interior of the case 3 is provided with an opening 42 in which a bearing 43 of the operating gear 44 may be held. The upper part of the case v3 is provided with an enlarged opening 45 into which an end of a straight handpiece or flexible drive shaft may be inserted to engage and drive a shaft 46 extending thru the bearing 43 and upon which the gear 44 is xedly mounted. The upper end of case 3 may be provided with a slot 4l by which it may be held by a wrench or the like while screwing it into or out of the angle section 2. 'Ihe bearing 43 is provided with a stationary collar 48 which ts into the recess 3S of the angle section 2 which holds it rigidly against the end of the nipple 4I when the parts 2 and 3 are held together. The gear 44 meshes with a gear 49 at one end of the gearassernbly shown in Figure 7 and gear 49 is fixedly mounted upon ashaft 50 which extends thru the bearings 29 and 34 and is provided with another gear 5| at the opposite end which meshes with a gear 52 on the vertical head spindle`l3. The gear 52 is made integral with the spindle and it will be noted that the upper end of the spindle isrotatably mounted in a bearing 53 in the upper end of a barrel 54 and the barrel and bearing are rigidly held in the casing by a screw 55 in an opening 56 as shown in Figure 2. The lower end of the spindle is rotatably mounted in a bearing 5S, shown in Figure 12 and this bearing is held stationary by a cap 51 which is screwed on threads 58 at the lower end of the barrel 54 whichengages and holdsa flange 59 at the lower edge of the bearing against the end of the barrel. The flange 59 is also provided with notches 60 which t over projections 6I at the lower vend of the barrel to positively hold the bearing in relation to the barrel. The upper portions of the barrel and bearing 53 are provided with a flat side as shown in Figure 9 which provides clearance for the teeth of the gear 5|, thereby permitting this gear to mesh with the gear 52. The Vertical spindle I3 is provided with a central opening 62 in which the shank of a bur is held, and the upper end of the opening is provided with a lug 63 which engages a recess in the side of the bur to insure it'srotating with the spindle. It will be understood that any other means may be used for keying the bur to the spindle to insure its rotating therewith. It will be noted that by removing the screw 55 the entire barrel and interior assembly of the head may be removed, and by removing the cap 5'! with the screw 55 in place the spindle I3 andfront bearing 56 may be removed from the barrel. With the members I, 2 and 3 separated, the gear assembly shown in Figure 7 may readily be withdrawn from the parts I and 2 and the unit shown in Figure 8 may readily be withdrawn from the lower end of the case 3 so that all of the interior parts may readily be withdrawn and replaced and each unit may be withdrawn and replaced `independently of the other. It will also be noted that all accurate machine work is well tted in the units so that anyone,

even though he may be inexperienced with devices of this nature may readily remove and replace them in order to clean or renew any part or parts.

`It lwill be understood that changes may be made in the construction without departing fromv the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the use of the assembled parts withY variations therein in an instrument, tool, or device of any other nature or for any other purpose, another may be in use of other means for holding or attachingthe parts together, another may be in the use of other means for holding the barrel in the head as it may bev held by friction or other means, another'maybe in the use Aof other means for holding the bearings and spindle in the barrel, and still another may be in the use of other means for holding the upper end of the buror sealing the upper end of the head.

'The construction will be readily understood i from the foregoing description. In use the device may be provided as shown in an angle handpiece for dentists, however, `it will be understood that it may be also used in any other type of device, and for any other purpose. It will be noted that the handpieceis provided in three pieces, a head, an angle section, and a rear case, and the angle section is held to the head by the coupling 30, and the rear case is screwed into the end of theangle section. The interior parts ofthe head are provided assembled in a barrel, and inserted in the head as a unit and the entire unit is held by a screw 55, which holds it rigidly in the head. The gear assembly is inserted in the horizontal section of the head with one of the gears meshing with the gear 52 and the collar 28, which governsthe mesh of the gears, is locked against the end of the horizontal section of the head by the end of the angle section when the two are held together by the coupling. The operating gear assembly is placed in the rear case with the gear 44, meshing with the gear 49, and as the shaft 46 is rotated it will rotate the shaft 50 and the spindle I3 thru the gears. The device may therefore operate as a complete unit, whereas, each part forms a separate and independent unit which may be removed and replaced independently of the other units. Any part thereof may readily be removed and replaced, and the only tool required is a screwdriver which may beV used to remove the screw 55.

With an insturment formed in this manner all of the internal or operating parts are provided in three separate and distinct units, each of which may be supplied as a separate unit and each of which may be removed and replaced independently of the other units without changing any y part or parts of the instrument casing. Each of the units is also self-contained and provided with complete bearings so that all working and wearing parts may be removed and replaced with the unit. The casing, therefore, only forms a housing for the units so that the life of the casing is innite and as the units forming the internal parts thereof are readily renewable,` the life of the entire instrument is also infinite. An instrument of this type also has many advantages as it is not necessary for the dentist to use an instrument in which the internal' parts are worn as the cost of the interior units is comparatively small and he will be inclined to keep all instruments in comparatively perfect condition. The general appearance of the instrument may also be maintained in comparatively perfect condition as the necessity of using tools on the diiferent parts which mar the surfaces thereof is eliminated as all the parts may readily be opened by hand and the interior units removed and replaced by hand.

Although there is an advantage in providing the gears inthe handle and horizontal section so that they may be readily removed there isa decided advantage inY providing the head with a complete removable barrel that contains both of the bearings of the spindle and also the spindle. This unit is soconstructed that it is also possible to remove and replace the bearings withoutrenewing the barrel or other parts thereof and as practically all of the wear in an instrument of this type is in the spindle bearings that hold the bur and as these bearings are comparatively small and inexpensive they may be removed and replaced as often as desired in order to maintain the instrument in perfect' condition.

The barrel is heldin the head by a screw, however, it may be held by friction or by any other means and it will be noted that the cap at the lower end is threaded on the end of the barrel so that it is not necessary to out threads on the bearing or in or on the head. The barrel may, therefore, be removed with the cap in place, or the cap may be removed so that the front or main bearing, and also the spindle, may be removed without removing the barrel. The cap is threaded on the lower end of the barrel and the lower edge of the threads may be cut away. or slightly beveled as shown in Figure l0 so that the nger nail or a sharp edge may be inserted therein te pry the bearing out of the barrel. This may, however, beV removed by any other means. It will, therefore, be noted that all details of construction are made so that any part of the spindles, bearings, or housings, may readily be removed or replaced by hand and by anyone, even though he may be inexperienced in instruments of this nature or description.

The sliding bur lock at the top of the head is also an improvement as it makes it possible to eliminate all `open holes thru the head which leak oil and also permit saliva to be drawn into the head, which causes 'rust and, therefore, increase wear on the internal parts. The sliding bur lock makes it possible to completely seal the head of the insstrument which atthe same time provides a very neat and compact appearance.

The head has been referred to and described as a one-piece head, whereas it will be noted that it is formed from Vthree pieces, the head proper, the tube section, and the nut, however, the three pieces form one complete unit and areuinseparable as the nut is placed over the tube section and then the tube section is, pressed into the head where it is permanently held and may be sealed or securedin any manner. It will be understood, however, that the head may be formed in any manner and may be of any design. The bearings 29 and "i3 have also been referred to as parts of single units shown in Figures 7 and 8, respectively, however, it will be understood that these bearings are also separate pieces and are permanently secured on the spindles.

The bearings may, however, be provided in two halves, as shown in Figure 16, and these halves may be placed over the spindle and clamped in the casing. It will also be noted that all bearings in the handle and head are rigidly clamped in place by the parts of the handpiece as they are assembled and these bearings, therefore, remain stationary as the handpiece is used as they are firmly clamped against parts of the casing.

The entire construction of this device makes it possible to reduce the weight of the casing so that the entire instrument weighs about one-half of instruments of this type and a light weight instrument makes it possible to work with a higher degree of eiiciency as its reaction to the drill Contact or touch is much more sensitive. This particular construction and arrangement of the parts provides a hand-piece with .many advantages as compared to any handpiece now in use. Having thusfully described the invention what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

Vla. An angle handpiece for dental use, or other purposes, comprising a head, an angle section, and a rear case, connecting means for said parts, a spindle having a gear thereon, a barrel in which said spindle-is rotatably mounted, said barrel having bearings at bothV ends thereof assembled therein and adapted to be removed as a unit therewith, means holding said barrel in said head, said barrel adapted to be removed with the spindle and bearings therein as a unit, a gear assembly rotatably mounted in said angle section and adapted to rot-ate said spindle thru the gear thereon, said barrel having a dat side corresponding with the gear of said gear assembly, thru which said gear passes as the barrel is removed with the gear assembly in position, said gear assembly also adapted to be removed and replaced with the barrel in position in the head, and an operating ge r assembly removably held in said rear case.

2. In an angle handpiece having a head and a handle removably attached to said head, a spindle, a barrel in which said spindle is rotatably mounted, a iront bearing in said barrel, a cap holding said front bearing in said barrel, an inner bearing, means for holding said inner bearing and said barrel in said head, and gearing adapted to drive said spindle `thru said handle.

3. An angle hand piece having a head and a handle removably attached to said head, a spindle mounting removably held in said head, a gear assembly also mounted in said head, an operating gear assembly removably mounted in said handle, said spindle mounting comprising a barrel with removable front and rear bearings therein for said spindle, and from which said spindle may be removed, a closure for the front end of said barrel adapted to be removed to permit removal of said spindle and a sliding lock adapted to hold a bur in said spindle and also adapted to form a closure completely sealing the rear end of said head.

4. The combination with an instrument having a head, an intermediate section and a rear handle case with connecting means between the several parts and with the head having a cylindrical chamber and with cylindrical openings in the respective parts in which the cylindrical opening of the head communicates with the cylindrical chamber thereof, of driving parts in said instrument comprising a spindle both ends of which are journalled in a removable barrel in the cylindrical chamber of said head, said spindle having a gear thereon, a gear assembly mounted in bearings forming a unit with the bearings adapted to be held in the cylindrical openings of said head and intermediate section, and an operating gear assembly mounted in bearings Aadapted to be held in the cylindrical opening of said rear handle case, said operating gear meshing with the gear of said gear assembly, said gear assembly and said operating gear assembly having collars protruding from the outer surfaces of the bearings thereof, said collars positioning said gear and gear assembly in the instrument and providing means for locating and holding the gears in relative positions.

5. An instrument as described in claim 4 in which Athe connecting means of the respective parts are independent of the operating gear and gear assembly.

6. A dental tool comprising a hollow cylindrical head with an aperture in the upper end and hav# ing a tubular handle, a sleeve fitted to the head, a hollow bur holding spindle journaled for rotation Within the sleeve, means rota-tably holding the upper end of the bur above the spindle, means removably retaining the sleeve in the head, means independent of the sleeve retaining means removably retaining the spindle in the sleeve, said means adapted to be operated for Ithe removal of the spindle from the sleeve without/the removal of the sleeve or the retaining means therefor from the head.

7. A dental tool comprising a hollow cylindrical head apertured at the upper end and having a tubular handle, a sleeve in said head, a hollow bur carrying spindle journaled for rotation and removably carried by said sleeve, means beyond the end of the spindle retaining said bur, a gear carried by the spindle, Said sleeve in which the spindle is mounted having a flat side extending upward from the gear carried by the spindle, a shaft journaled in the tubular handle having a gear meshing with the gear on said sleeve, said spindle and sleeve adapted to be removed from said head as a unit withou-t withdrawing the shaft gear from said head.

8. A dental tool, a cylindrical head having a tubular handle, a sleeve removably retained in said head, a bearing removably retained in said handle, a spindle adapted to hold a bur removably carried by said sleeve, means rotatably retaining said bur in said head beyond the end of the spindle, a drive shaft journaled in said bearing equipped with a gear, a gear carried by the spindle and adapted to be engaged by the gear on said shaft, said sleeve in which the spindle is mounted having a'iiat side extending upward from the gear carried by the spindle, said sleeve and spindle adapted to be removed from the head as a unit without withdrawing the drive shaft gear fromsaid head.

9. A dental tool, a cylindrical head having a tubular handle, a unit in said head comprising a removable bearing in which a gear 'driven bur holding spindle is removably journaled, means retaining the unit in said head, said unit having a at side providing access to the gear thereof, means rotatably retaining a bur in said spindle in said head and engaging the bur beyond the inner end of the spindle, a unit in said tubular handle comprising a bearing in which a shaft is journaled, a gear on said shaft engaging the gearV driven spindle, and a section adapted to be secured to the tubular handle equipped with a drive shaft, said section, when secured to said handle, retaining the said unit in place in said handle.

10. A dental tool as described in claim '7 in which the shaft is journaled in a bearing in the handle and carries a gear at the outer end of the handle, and an angular attachment is also removably attached to the end of the handle having a shaft journaled therein, also carrying a gear adapted to mesh with the gear on the shaft in the end of the handle, said shafts and bearings in the handle and attachment being removable as units, respectively.

11. A dental tool as described in claim 7 in which the shaft is journaled in a bearing in the handle and carries a gear at the outer end of the handle, and an angular attachment is also removably attached to the end of the handle having a shaft journaled therein, also carrying a gear adapted to mesh with the gear on the shaft in the end of the handle, said shafts and bearings in the handle and attachment being removable as units, respectively, and in which the outer stationary parts of said bearings only engage the handle and attachment with all Y movable parts suspended therein with sufficient clearance to prevent wear of said handle and attachment.

12. A dental tool as described in claim 7 in which the shaft is journaled in a bearing in the handle and said shaft and bearing may be removed as a unit, said shaft and bearings mounted with all moving parts suspended in said handle and spaced apart therefrom, preventing wear of the handle.

13. A dental handpiece having a head with a handle removably attached thereto, a spindle mounting removably and slidably held in said head, said spindle having a gear thereon and said spindle mounting having a at side extending upward from the gear on the spindle therein, an operating gear assembly removably and slidably mounted in said handle, in which the gear thereof meshes with the gear of said` spindle, and means locking the inner end of a bur in said spindle in said head.

14. A dental handpiece as described in claim 13 having a closure for the lower end of said spindle mounting adapted to be removed therewith.

15. A dental handpiece as described in claim 13 having a closure for the lower end of said spinple mounting adapted to be removed therewith, said closure also adapted to be removed from the spindle mounting with the spindle mounting in the head in order to remove said spindle from the mounting therefor.

16. A handpiece as described in claim 13, in which said spindle and gear assembly mountings space all moving parts away from the head and handle.

17. A handpiece as described in claim 13 in which the spindle and gear assembly mountings are provided with bearings, and in which said bearings are readily removable from the head 

